True Disciples

Well, its been three days since we heard the news that Renda and Shelby went home to be with Lord.  That's an interesting phrase, isn't it, "Home to be with the Lord."  We often hear those words during times like these, particularly among believers. 

I looked up the word "home" in the Webster's Online Dictionary and one entry said, "a place of origin."  In a sense, that definition is appropriate for Renda and Shelby as their very life originated with God, but I like another entry that speaks of home as a place of refuge.

You see, this world we live in is not what God originally intended it to be.  When God created it, it was perfect and safe and it was man's "home" with God.

But when sin entered, all of creation including man himself fell into a perpetual state of hostility toward God.  In other words, this world was no longer the home God intended it to be.  It's no wonder Jesus told his disciples, "I go to prepare a place for you."  But notice that Jesus didn't say he was going to prepare a place for everyone, he was speaking to His disciples.  So I also looked "disciple" up in the dictionary.  It said, "one who accepts and assists in the spreading of the doctrines of another."  That certainly described Renda and Shelby as they served with our church in promoting and spreading the teachings of Christ. 

But does it describe you?  You see, a true disciple of Christ is one who has seen their sin as personally offensive to God, deserving of his wrath in eternity.  And until you see your sin as something that profoundly offends God, you will never be able to see what Renda and Shelby saw.  They saw Jesus' death as God's Son dying in their place, dying the death they themselves deserved, taking God's wrath for sin He didn't commit.  And Renda and Shelby turned away from sin and they accepted Jesus' dying for them by faith, therefore becoming true disciples. 

So, the question now becomes, have you ever become a true disciple?  Is Jesus preparing a place for you?